Gaston's population growth lags behind other counties near Charlotte

But whether it’s climbing too slowly, or even too briskly, probably depends on your point of view.

Longtime residents who despise everything from traffic to urban sprawl probably pine for a simpler time when Charlotte’s popularity had yet to trickle west of the Catawba River. But most city and county leaders here, as well as businesses and developers, would like to see Gaston grow at a much quicker clip, like its neighbors on every other side of the Queen City.

Newly updated census figures bear witness to Gaston’s reality. Since 2010, its 5.2 percent growth rate has put it ahead of outlying neighbors such as Lincoln and Cleveland counties. But it is still dragging noticeably behind Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union and even Iredell counties.

And the two South Carolina counties closest to Charlotte, York and Lancaster, are both growing about three times as fast as Gaston.

Here’s how Gaston shapes up against other nearby counties:

Since the 2010 census, North Carolina’s population has grown 6.4 percent. Here’s a look at how Gaston County and other counties surrounding it have compared, both in the past six years and in the past year.

County 2016 population Growth since 2010 Growth since 2015

Gaston 216,965 5.2 percent 1.6 percent

Mecklenburg 1,054,835 14.7 percent 2.1 percent

Lincoln 81,168 3.7 percent 0.7 percent

Cleveland 97,144 -0.9 percent 0.2 percent

Union 226,606 12.5 percent 1.8 percent

Cabarrus 201,590 13.2 percent 2.5 percent

Iredell 172,916 8.4 percent 1.7 percent

Catawba 156,459 1.4 percent 0.5 percent

Rowan 139,933 1.1 percent 1.0 percent

York, SC 258,526 14.3 percent 3.0 percent

Lancaster, SC 89,594 16.9 percent 4.1 percent

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